Rathdrum
THURSDAY WALKS
Last Thursday’s walk to Derrybawn saw 43 participants turn out, our biggest this year, and a lovely walk was enjoyed by all on a relatively dull but warm evening. Like the cuckoo in spring, the set dancers made their first appearance which must herald the start of summer proper. Good to see them out and welcome back.
Next week’s walk is the always popular Deputys Pass loop. Meet as usual in Rathdrum at 7pm and Deputys Pass at 7.20.
GOLF SOCIETY
Jacobs Well Golf Society played its 3rd event of the 2017 season at Coolatin Golf Club on Saturday 13th May. The Society was warmly received by the Club and its members and the beautiful parkland course was in excellent condition. There was a another high turn out of 21 members on the day. The weather on the day was dull but mostly dry, so a number of good scores were recorded.
The winner of the Category 1 Section was Cormac Redmond with 31 points and John Browne won the Category 2 section with 29 points. Front nine and back nine were won by Sean Carroll and Harry Connell and Anthony Doyle had the longest drive. Priz- es for “nearest the pin” on the Par 3 holes were awarded to Cormac Redmond, Sean Carroll, Paddy Byrne and Anthony Doyle. Prizes were presented at Coolatin by Committee members Artie Byrne and Mick Leonard.
The Society also took part in the fundraising Quiz for St Saviour’s School and were represented by Tom Donnelly, Jim Byrne, Christy Bolton and Mick Leonard on 12th May last. The team finished in a credible 5th position on the night.
The Society’s next event takes place on Saturday 10th June at Baltinglass Golf Club (1st Tee off 10.15) when we look forward to another day out and a further strong attendance.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
On Monday 8th May, Charles Egan gave the final lecture of this year’s series on the Irish Famine. He has written two novels on the subject, both widely acclaimed.
He explained that his initial interest in the subject was sparked by a hoard of old documents found by his father in an outhouse on their family farm in Kiltmagh, Co. Mayo. Included in these were lists of payments to poor people who had worked on road schemes in the area during 1840’s to ward off starvation and death. There were also some family letters.
The past number of years of Charles’ life, and of his wife Carmel too, have been an odyssey of discovery and reconstruction as they attempted to piece together the lives of their own family and of those around them who had to contend with circumstance and disaster.
The potato blight of ‘45, the artic winter of ‘46, the epidemic of typhus in ‘47, saw thousands die in mud huts and cabins which, in some places in Mayo, were just collapsed in on top of them. Soup kitchens proved inadequate, overcrowded workhouses became death-traps and politicians proved to be more concerned with the stock market than with the starving mass of humanity.
Charles’ talk fleshed out many of these issues through the prism of his own faimly’s efforts to survive the horrors of those timies that shaped a generation and amrked a nation. His two fascinating novesl, The Killing Snows and the Exile Breed, are disturbing reminders of how people then and later had to cope.
LOUGH DERG
A one day Pilgrimage to lough Derg will take place on the weekend of September 2/3. Overnight stay in the Central Hotel, Donegal on Saturday 2nd going on to the island on Sunday 3rd. For further information contact Mary 0404 45119 or Breda 086 3073060 or 0402 39043.
PARISH SALE
The Rathdrum and Derralossary with Glenealy Parish Group annual spring sale will take place on Saturday 20th May in the R.D.A. Hall in Rathdrum from 1 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. Stalls will include toys, books, plants, bric a brac, cakes and teas. A raffle with many prizes will be drawn at 3 p.m. Frist prize is €150.00 All welcome and we ask you to come and support our parish group please.